Wages freeze by Royal Mail unlawful for CWU's work-to-contract campaign

Royal Mail has been forced to pay dozens of postal workers who had their pay stopped "without good reason" last August.

The Communications Workers Union (CWU) secured pay-outs for 27 postal workers who had their wages frozen for two days following a union campaign called 'Doing the Job Properly' in 2007.

Workers were told to attend work on time and not come in early, take their proper meal breaks, not to carry bags heavier than agreed health and safety weight limits and not to use their private cars for delivering mail.

Managers at the Streatham, South London, delivery office wrongly penalised staff for a subsequent build-up of mail and accused staff or being on a go-slow.

Bob Gibson, CWU national officer, said: "This is an important victory for both the individuals involved and the CWU. Postal workers should not be penalised for working in accordance with their contractual responsibilities and within health and safety guidelines."

Royal Mail will be forced to pay a total of almost £5,000, or £170 per worker, following the ruling by the employment tribunal.

The employer paid more than £12m in compensation last year for customer complaints ranging from loss and delay of letters to rudeness from staff.